Countdown: Last scheduled game at Ricoh

Sisu boss Joy Seppala was among those meeting in Westminster today to discuss the future of Coventry City Football Club.

The key players in the Ricoh Arena row were called to the face-to-face meeting by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright.

As well as Ms Seppala making the trip to London, she was joined by the football club's chairman Tim Fisher and chief executive Dave Boddy, Nick Eastwood from Wasps RFC and Julie Newman from Coventry City Council.

EFL bosses Shaun Harvey and John Nagle were also at today's meeting, as were local MPs, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Mark McCafferty of Premiership Rugby.

Coventry City has released a statement saying that while they cannot divulge the content of today's crunch meeting, the club "welcomed the opportunity for the parties involved in the current impasse to come together to discuss the future of the football club in the city".

CCFC statement

The statement released this evening (March 14) reads: "Coventry City Football Club attended today’s meeting in Westminster, and welcomed the opportunity for the parties involved in the current impasse to come together to discuss the future of the football club in the city.

"At the start of the meeting today, it was agreed that no party would publicly comment on what was discussed in the meeting.

"As stated previously, we maintain that face-to-face talks between key figures in all parties would be the only way to find a solution.

"We would like to thank those who took the time to attend the meeting today. We hope that an agreement can be found that will provide the best solution to all parties, that being Coventry City playing home games at the Ricoh Arena next season."

Council responds to Sisu

The leaders of Coventry City Council have again urged Sisu to drop their legal action.

Responding to an open letter released by Sky Blue owners Sisu, in which they set out conditions on which they would cease litigation, the council said the London-based hedge fund must take responsibility for its own actions.

In a strongly worded letter, signed by both Labour council leader George Duggins and Cllr Gary Ridley, leader of the Conservative opposition, the council defended its actions in the long-running row over the Ricoh Arena sale.

And they said claims levelled by Sisu in yesterday's letter to fans, and in an eight-page background document, were a repeat of previous arguments "tested numerous times now in the courts".

The full response from the city council read: “It is regrettable that the current owners of our great football club continue to trot out the same arguments about the conduct of others while completely failing to take responsibility for the position that the club finds itself in under their stewardship.

"They continue to paint themselves as victims where, in reality, the current situation is a direct consequence of the actions taken by the owners in recent years.

“The arguments about the unlawful actions of others detailed in their letter have been tested numerous times now in the courts and have failed every time. It is the continuation of this litigation which is alienating them from the partners in the city who they should be working with to secure a successful and sustainable future for Coventry City Football Club.

“Coventry City Council has been consistent in its desire to see a successful football club secure a long term future in the city whether that be at the Ricoh Arena or in a new stadium and deny we have acted against their interests at any time.

"We have also been consistent in stressing that any application for an alternative development will be dealt with completely impartially and in accordance with our statutory duties. We firmly refute the baseless allegation that our impartiality as a planning authority is questionable.

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"Any decision we take can be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and if they ever feel procedurally disadvantaged they can of course take us to the Local Government Ombudsman.

“SISU have been talking about developing a new stadium for almost six years now but we have seen no evidence of any real progress or intent.

"If they are now serious about building a new home for the football club in the city, let them show they mean business by dropping the litigation and entering meaningful talks with Wasps about a tenancy agreement which will ensure that the club can fulfil the requirements of the English Football League and allow time for SISU to bring forward and deliver a stadium proposal which is viable both logistically and financially.

“Let them show they are serious about their commitment to Coventry City Football Club by taking this first step to secure its immediate future and to help get the club back to its rightful place in the upper echelons of league football.”

What is the Ricoh Arena row about?

Coventry City face the prospect of being without a home within a matter of weeks.

Their current deal with Ricoh Arena owners Wasps expires at the end of the season.

The rugby club refuse to enter negotiations over a new deal while Sisu's legal action against Coventry City Council over the sale of the Ricoh to Wasps continues.